A new example illustrates just how complex the operational implementation of an ambitious and necessary regulation can be.
Similarly to the cocoa industry, small-scale palm oil producers in Malaysia are voicing their concerns about the implementation of the new regulation against imported deforestation in a memorandum addressed to the Dutch Prime Minister.
At the heart of their concerns: the exclusion of the smallest producers (because of new technical and administrative constraints) from the European market (which is already difficult to access), who are also facing increasing challenges such as climate change and rising costs.
As we pointed out last time, a sustainable and equitable transition requires putting producers back at the centre, and adopting long-term collaborative strategies, especially with the smallest producers!
